Bill
HB 3005
IDOT must annually report on mechanic staffing and set a goal to fill at least 85% of authorized mechanic positions, with General Assembly oversight.
Status (key dates)
- Introduced: February 2025 (Rep. Marcus C. Evans, Jr.).
- Enacted: Signed by the Governor 6/20/2025; effective 9/1/2025 (core mechanics-reporting provisions).
- Later Senate floor activity: Multiple Senate floor amendments (Nos. 1–4) were filed and adopted Oct. 28–29, 2025 and concurred by the House Oct. 30, 2025. Those amendments add several unrelated statutory changes (described below). Check the final enrolled act for the consolidated text.
Purpose
- Require the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to report annually on mechanic staffing and to set and seek to maintain a minimum fill rate for mechanic positions, increasing transparency and legislative oversight of IDOT maintenance workforce capacity.
Primary provisions (original bill)
- Adds Section 2705-627 to the Department of Transportation Law (20 ILCS 2705/2705-627 — new).
- Annual report: By August 1 each year IDOT must submit to the Governor and General Assembly a written report describing the prior fiscal year’s efforts to fill open mechanic positions.
- Required report content includes:
1. Total number of mechanic positions in IDOT for the prior fiscal year.
2. Number of mechanic positions unfilled at any point during the prior fiscal year.
3. Duration each unfilled position remained vacant.
4. Number of mechanic positions filled during the prior fiscal year.
5. A detailed description of recruitment efforts/initiatives used.
- Workforce goal: IDOT must establish and maintain a goal of filling at least 85% of all authorized and budgeted mechanic positions in each fiscal year.
- Legislative oversight: The General Assembly will review the report and may request more information or hold hearings about staffing, recruitment strategies, and progress toward the 85% goal.
Significant Senate amendments (Oct 2025, adopted)
- Senate Amendment No. 001 / No. 002 (substantive replacement language): Substitutes a revised version of Section 7.5 of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) listing numerous statutory exemptions. Effect: expands/clarifies many categories of records that are exempt from public inspection (health, safety, law enforcement, licensing, etc.). (Filed by Sen. Robert Peters.)
- Senate Amendment No. 003: Amends the Workplace Transparency Act (820 ILCS 96/1-35) to clarify and expand remedies — references to compensatory and consequential damages, costs, and attorney’s fees for employees, prospective employees, or former employees for violations; includes an effective date provision (Section 30 takes effect Jan. 1, 2026).
- Senate Amendment No. 004: Modifies the Prevailing Wage Act (820 ILCS 130/3) to make clear prevailing-wage requirements apply to maintenance, repair, assembly, disassembly of public-works equipment (including field mechanics/technicians and related transportation time), which may broaden prevailing wage obligations on public contracts.
Who is affected
- IDOT: reporting obligations; internal staffing/HR planning to meet the 85% goal.
- IDOT mechanics and prospective mechanics: increased focus on recruitment and retention; goal may affect hiring priorities.
- Contractors / public bodies: if Prevailing Wage changes are enacted, contractors performing equipment maintenance or using field mechanics on public works may face broader prevailing wage requirements and costs.
- Public and legislators: more data and oversight regarding IDOT mechanic staffing; FOIA amendments (if enacted) affect public access to many records.
- Employees under the Workplace Transparency Act: potential expanded remedies (damages and fees) for violations.
Potential impacts and tradeoffs
- Increased transparency/accountability of IDOT staffing but not prescriptive hiring methods or funding — goal is aspirational (85%) and paired with reporting and legislative oversight rather than explicit enforcement penalties.
- Prevailing Wage expansion could increase labor costs on public projects that include equipment maintenance or field mechanics.
- FOIA exemption expansion could reduce public access to certain categories of records; the scope depends on the final statutory language.
Next steps / notes
- Because multiple Senate floor amendments were adopted Oct. 28–30, 2025, consult the final enrolled act or the Secretary of State’s statutes to see the consolidated, current law text and whether additional gubernatorial action was required after those amendments.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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